REFURBISHED / RECYCLED WORKPLACE AWARD

A corporate or commercial building where significant works have been carried out to adapt the existing building to modern office use. Buildings involving only façade retention would be considered as new builds.

NATIONAL WINNER

Midlands

The Council House, Corporation Street, Derby

Many projects lay claim to be transformational, but the Council House Derby truly is. It would have been far simpler for the Council to relocate entirely to a new development. Instead the decision was made to create a new environment within the exiting locally listed 1930’s brick and steel frame building: this was irrespective of the fact that the challenge would be magnified by the necessary temporary relocation of staff. The two key drivers of creating greater efficiency and new working practises have certainly been achieved. Previously housing 500 employees in a hotch potch of cellular office spaces, the new 1,440 workstations now accommodate 2,000 staff - a shining example of ‘free addressing’.

The building not only satisfies all of the Council’s work space requirements - including an element of flexible use space for times of peak need - it also acts as a meeting place for the general public and as a civic or function venue when required. The sustainability credentials are cutting edge, as is the work space itself. The use of the site and the natural resources available are nothing short of exceptional and the project wholly merits its BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings. This is the first scheme that any member of the 2014 BCO national judging panel had ever actually seen that included a hydroelectric power plant, river water cooling, photo-voltaic panels and solar thermal panels.

High levels of user satisfaction and comfort have been achieved through energy efficient lighting and controls, improved building fabric and heat recovery to create an energy efficient environment. The re-use of the building is not overblown but contains some bold elements including the new Council Chamber, which is clearly visible from the public areas within the building. The façade has been retained and roofline maintained but the amount of space on-site has been increased by more than half again. The building is beautifully balanced between old and new. The completed project has been extremely well received by Council employees and is a showcase for potential investors and local authorities from beyond the Midlands that should be fully exploited.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client:

Derby City Council

Architect:

Corstorphine + Wright

Owner:

Derby City Council

Interior Designer:

Corstorphine + Wright

Occupier

Derby City Council

M&E Engineer:

Hoare Lea

Project Manager:

Mace

Structural Engineer:

Curtins

Quantity Surveyor:

Mace

Contractor

BAM Construction

REGIONAL WINNERS

Scotland

Hamilton House, 70 Hamilton Drive, Glasgow

Hamilton House is one of the most impressive office spaces the Scottish Judges have seen in recent years and is a credit to G1 Group and their designers. The working environment is spacious and finished to an extremely high standard. From the beautifully exposed existing central steel columns to the fantastic bespoke pieces of furniture made by the in-house G1 team, everything fits seamlessly with the character of the building.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client:

G1 Group

Interior Designer:

Graven Images

Owner:

G1 Group

M & E Engineer:

Atelier Ten

Occupier

G1 Group

Structural Engineer:

The Structural Partnership

Quantity Surveyor:

Gardiner & Theobald

Contractor:

G1 Group

Architect:

G1 Group

Midlands

The Council House, Corporation Street, Derby

The finished result of the refurbishment of this locally listed 1930s building is absolutely fantastic and melds the old and the new together seamlessly. It would have been simpler for the Council to move to a new building but the decision was taken to create a new environment on the existing site, even though this meant accommodating staff short term elsewhere. The façade has been retained and roofline maintained but the amount of space on site has been increased by over 50%. This BREEAM Excellent, EPC A rated building not only satisfies all of the Council’s requirements, including an element of flexible use space for times of peak need, but also acts as both a meeting place for the general public and as a venue when required.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client:

Derby City Council

Architect:

Corstorphine + Wright

Owner:

Derby City Council

Interior Designer:

Corstorphine + Wright

Occupier

Derby City Council

M&E Engineer:

Hoare Lea

Project Manager:

Mace

Structural Engineer:

Curtins

Quantity Surveyor:

Mace

Contractor

BAM Construction

London and the South East

One Embankment Place, London

PwC made a brave decision to retain and refurbish the iconic office building over one of London's major transport hubs. Their ambition is amply rewarded. Entering the base of the busy semi open atrium, there is a real vibrancy as clients and staff mix in a variety of places. PWC analysed the mobility and activities undertaken by their team, and set a brief to provide an 'hoteling' office environment to match. An exemplar sustainable office provides a really active, stimulating environment for staff and clients alike.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client:

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

Architect:

tp bennett

Owner:

APMCL

Interior Designer:

tp bennett

Occupier

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

M&E Engineer:

ChapmanBDSP

Project Manager:

Turner & Townsend

Structural Engineer:

Arup

Quantity Surveyor:

Turner & Townsend

Contractor:

Overbury

Brief Consultant:

tp bennett

South West, Thames Valley & South Wales

The Carriage Building, Bruton Way, Gloucester

The merger of two equally sized architectural practices formed the brief to construct a studio that would bring staff together and create an uplifting environment for creative working. Taking on a disused and forgotten historic building was a brave decision and the judges were impressed with a sensitive refurbishment which breathes new life into this former horse drawn carriage showcase building. The use of reclaimed desks, glass partitions and components make this a low embodied energy, BREEAM excellent project.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client:

Roberts Limbrick

Architect:

Roberts Limbrick

Owner:

Roberts Limbrick

Interior Designer:

Roberts Limbrick

Occupier

Roberts Limbrick

M&E Engineer:

Couch Perry & Wilkes

Project Manager:

Roberts Limbrick

Structural Engineer:

Simpson Associates

Quantity Surveyor:

Roberts Limbrick

Contractor:

Barnwood Construction

North of England, North Wales & Northern Ireland

Manchester Town Hall Extension, Lloyd Street, Manchester

The scheme is an outstanding success and enables the building to be maintained as the Council's main administration headquarters, and a key part of the focus of Manchester civic life. This BREEAM Excellent rated project is exemplary in demonstrating the way in which it is possible to create an efficient, flexible, modern office space embedded within a Grade 2* listed building.